Vase, Holland Mexico or someplace else?

Hi, I am fairly sure the mark on the bottom of this vase says Holland but I am not positive and I cannot find one like it or another Gouda piece with the same color clay. It sure looks like Gouda pottery, but I have also found some Mexican pieces that look very similar. It stands about 7.5" tall Hopefully somebody can help me and I thank all of you in advance.

 

Not Mexican.

Debora

 

Thanks, Debora. I've tried blowing up that mark and altering it but I just can't avoid seeing something other than Holland, Though I can see that too.

 

Don't see "Holland." To my eye, Near- or Middle-Eastern more likely but not my area of expertise. Sure someone else will come along who will be able to identify.

Debora

 

Morocco?

 

I think Nabeul.

 

Could be. Most certainly somewhere in North Africa, and Nabeul ceramics do have a lot of those 'cloisons', for lack of a better word.

Uhmm, we don't use Arabic script in Dutch.
We in Brabant tend to think the Hollanders are a bit strange (and they think we are stupid ), but I have never seen Holland Dutch written in Arabic script either.

Those yellow ribbon-like shapes that look like fish standing on their tails are an old way of writing the letter Aleph, or A. It has a similar meaning in Islam as the Alpha in Christianity: the beginning of everything.

 

Here is a discussion on your mark, they come to the result that it is most likely the Verclos workshops in Nabeul... http://placedelours.superforum.fr/t18303-petits-vases-nabeul-tunisie

 

Nice research, Mat.
From Mat's link, a similar mark:


The name, written:

 

Matt, great detective work and thanks so much. Thanks to all of you. Funny how I couldn't get my first impression out of my mind even after I knew it was wrong. Thanks to everyone you've done it again.